1Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC CONNECTION
The
The Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
PROVIDING STUDENTSTHE OPPORTUNITY TO
LEARN AND GROW
FALL 2015
2
TTABLE OF CONTENTSSuperintendentrsquos Message - Page 3Blue Ribbon Schools - Page 3Migration in Global Context - Page 4-5Global Education Updates - Page 6-8Professional Learning Networks - Page 9Collinwood High School Writing Center - Page 9The DIsney Way - Page 10Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success - Page 11Campus Connections - Page 12Building Leadership - Page 13Educator Quality Programs - Page 14Emerging Leaders - Page 14Early Learners - Page 15Working on the Work Conference - Page 16-17Innovation Lab Network - Page 16-17Gifted amp Talented Student Programs - Page 18-19Ohio Online Learning Program - Page 20Rosemary Center - Page 21
We Build Bridges For Educators bull Districts bull Agencies bull Organizations
Universities amp Colleges bull Students bull Adult LearnersFamilies amp Communities bull Businesses
FacebookCuyahoga County ESC
Twitter CuyahogaESC
6393 Oaktree BlvdIndependence OH 44131
(216) 524-3000 Fax (216) 524-3683
wwwesc-ccorg
Robert A Mengerink Superintendent
Jennifer DoddDirector of Operations and
Development
Steve Rogaski Director of Pupil Services
Bruce G Basalla Treasurer
Governing BoardAnthony Miceli
President
Carol Fortlage Vice President
Tony Hocevar Christine Krol
Frank Mahnic Jr
Editor Nadine Grimm
ContributorsJennifer DoddPaula Kucinic
3Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
SSuperintendentrsquos Message
ESC Experiencing Exciting and Positive Changes
By Dr Bob Mengerink Superintendent
We Build Bridges For Educators bull Districts bull Agencies bull Organizations
Universities amp Colleges bull Students bull Adult LearnersFamilies amp Communities bull Businesses
Dear Colleagues
I hope you have had a wonderful start to this new school year
Our ESC has seen some exciting changes over the last year with new districts programs and
services that continue to increase our capacity to serve each of you While our client districts now span across five counties in Northeast Ohio we remain open and committed to providing assistance and support to any district that needs services
Services and programs developed through the ESC of Cuyahoga are based on dialogue and feedback from our clients to ensure that we are offering flexible support that meets your needsmdashnot our needs With the relationships
our ESC team has developed over the years with area administrators and educators we hope you will always feel welcome and comfortable to tell us not only how we can help but how we can help better There is no wrong door to finding support at our ESC and you can always contact any of our staff at any time While our vision is to continue to expand
our work and partnerships at the ESC our priority will always be to make each individual feel as they are a part of a small family of support
SincerelyBob Mengerink
Congratulations 2015 National Blue Ribbon SchoolsUS Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized 335 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015 based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups The ESC of Cuyahoga County congratulates Hilltop Elementary School in the Beachwood City School District (Rebecca Holthaus Principal) and Westerly Elementary School in the Bay Village City Schools (Josie Sanfilippo Principal)
The Department honored all 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on November 9-10 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC Each school received an award plaque and a flag as symbols of their accomplishments In its 33-year history more than 8000 of Americarsquos schools have received the coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award
C
ldquoThere is no wrong door to finding support at our ESC and you can always contact any of our staff at any timerdquo
4
Migration in Global ContextMTwenty-two educators from around Ohio participated in the Summer Institute in the Humanities Migration in Global Context History Narrative and Project-Based Learning at the ESC of Cuyahoga County during August The ESC is collaborating with the History Department at Cleveland State University to present the teacher institute and follow-up workshops during Fall and Spring terms During the institute teachers learned from humanities scholars about local national and international historical social cultural and economic consequences of migration within and across countries and continents Master teachers demonstrated transdisciplinary curricula and project-based learning that engages students in learning about migration themes in the classroom and in their communities Teachers toured the historic Tremont area of Cleveland that has welcomed waves of immigrants for decades During AY 2015-2016 the program continues with book discussion film and a Teacher Symposium during which participants will demonstrate their curricular units and the active participation of their students
In preparation for the Symposium Cleveland Central Catholic High School visual art students led by Mary C Brondfield and North Olmsted High School history students led by Matt Aber participated in an interactive program to understand migration patterns and contributions of immigrants within Clevelandrsquos Slavic Village neighborhood on October 22 Prof John Grabowski of Case Western Reserve University was interviewed by students about growing up in Slavic Village
and the changes he has seen over the years Students toured historic Shrine Church of St Stanislaus built by Polish immigrants during the 1800s The tour was given by choir director David Krakowski and writer Rob Jagelewski Students had the opportunity to tour the Baxter Road Cemetery one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Cleveland Author Jeff Morris unlocked the gates to the cemetery and provided students with an up-close view of the tombstones Morris gave a lecture on the history of the cemetery The event provided students with an authentic experience of the economic cultural and historical changes in migration leading up to the present day Slavic Village Both Mrs Brondfield and Mr Aber participated in the program this past summer
The project is funded in part by Ohio Humanities a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities to expand content knowledge through a humanities lens for teachers and their students
For information and to register for events please contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
5Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
6
GLOBAL EDUCATION International Visitors at the ESC
On October 23rd international educators from Turkey the Republic of China Jordan and Saudi Arabia learned about the myriad services and programs provided by the ESC of Cuyahoga County The educators represented a broad range of disciplines including English psychology science social studies special education curriculum and instruction and evaluation and assessment They are currently participating in education programs at Kent State University and are interested in learning about services and programs which typically are not offered in their home countries
Coordinator of 21st Century Learning Nadine Grimm shared information about the ESC its mission services and programs Communications and community outreach professional Charlene Paparizos provided information about the ways in which schools and the ESC communicate with their constituents about important issues through print electronic and social
media Dana Lambacher and Susan Cromwell of the ESC shared information about student special services such as audio or visual interventions Mary Wise coordinator of Project AWARE discussed mental health services for students and educator training to raise awareness about needs and interventions
The exchange with international educators will continue in April with the Culture Cafeacute hosted at the ESC For information contact
Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
G
7Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Teaching About Africa Workshop SeriesThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is collaborating with scholars from Cleveland State and Kent State Universities to present a series of fall workshops focusing on sub-Saharan Africa and the history cultures and current events shaping the continent On September 2nd The Public Humanities and Modern Africa Symposium co-hosted by the ESC was held at Cleveland State Scholars from Africa or whose expertise focuses on Africana history anthropology archaeology art geography and educational research discussed the past present and future of the developing countries on the African continent On October 22nd the ESC hosted a workshop on
East Africa Kenya and the Cleveland-Kenyan History Mobile App Project led by Prof Meshack Owino a native Kenyan who is collaborating with scholars in Kenya and their respective students to record the history of public sites in Kenya and Cleveland It is a model of conducting local history work but with international implications Workshops continue at the ESC with West African history and literacy genres and the history of Central Africa cultures and African music traditions with professors at Kent State from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For information contact Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
Click here for more info on the Dec 2 workshop
8
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
Pre-school art English and reading specialists participated in an Octavofest event at the ESC of Cuyahoga County making handmade paper in the Western style from cotton fiber and in the Eastern style from kozo fiber The workshop was one event of Octavofest a celebration of the book and paper arts that happens annually in October in Northeast Ohio and includes lectures exhibits tours and other events This yearrsquos theme was ldquoIn the Gardenrdquo thus our handmade papers were made from plant fibers provided by artisans from Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Teachers will use their handmade
papers to make journals books and posters with their students to enhance reading writing and art skills
The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight leaves The ESC has offered workshops for past Octavofest events on handmade book crafts creating books from recycled materials and workshops on travel journals
G
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
2
TTABLE OF CONTENTSSuperintendentrsquos Message - Page 3Blue Ribbon Schools - Page 3Migration in Global Context - Page 4-5Global Education Updates - Page 6-8Professional Learning Networks - Page 9Collinwood High School Writing Center - Page 9The DIsney Way - Page 10Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success - Page 11Campus Connections - Page 12Building Leadership - Page 13Educator Quality Programs - Page 14Emerging Leaders - Page 14Early Learners - Page 15Working on the Work Conference - Page 16-17Innovation Lab Network - Page 16-17Gifted amp Talented Student Programs - Page 18-19Ohio Online Learning Program - Page 20Rosemary Center - Page 21
We Build Bridges For Educators bull Districts bull Agencies bull Organizations
Universities amp Colleges bull Students bull Adult LearnersFamilies amp Communities bull Businesses
FacebookCuyahoga County ESC
Twitter CuyahogaESC
6393 Oaktree BlvdIndependence OH 44131
(216) 524-3000 Fax (216) 524-3683
wwwesc-ccorg
Robert A Mengerink Superintendent
Jennifer DoddDirector of Operations and
Development
Steve Rogaski Director of Pupil Services
Bruce G Basalla Treasurer
Governing BoardAnthony Miceli
President
Carol Fortlage Vice President
Tony Hocevar Christine Krol
Frank Mahnic Jr
Editor Nadine Grimm
ContributorsJennifer DoddPaula Kucinic
3Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
SSuperintendentrsquos Message
ESC Experiencing Exciting and Positive Changes
By Dr Bob Mengerink Superintendent
We Build Bridges For Educators bull Districts bull Agencies bull Organizations
Universities amp Colleges bull Students bull Adult LearnersFamilies amp Communities bull Businesses
Dear Colleagues
I hope you have had a wonderful start to this new school year
Our ESC has seen some exciting changes over the last year with new districts programs and
services that continue to increase our capacity to serve each of you While our client districts now span across five counties in Northeast Ohio we remain open and committed to providing assistance and support to any district that needs services
Services and programs developed through the ESC of Cuyahoga are based on dialogue and feedback from our clients to ensure that we are offering flexible support that meets your needsmdashnot our needs With the relationships
our ESC team has developed over the years with area administrators and educators we hope you will always feel welcome and comfortable to tell us not only how we can help but how we can help better There is no wrong door to finding support at our ESC and you can always contact any of our staff at any time While our vision is to continue to expand
our work and partnerships at the ESC our priority will always be to make each individual feel as they are a part of a small family of support
SincerelyBob Mengerink
Congratulations 2015 National Blue Ribbon SchoolsUS Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized 335 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015 based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups The ESC of Cuyahoga County congratulates Hilltop Elementary School in the Beachwood City School District (Rebecca Holthaus Principal) and Westerly Elementary School in the Bay Village City Schools (Josie Sanfilippo Principal)
The Department honored all 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on November 9-10 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC Each school received an award plaque and a flag as symbols of their accomplishments In its 33-year history more than 8000 of Americarsquos schools have received the coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award
C
ldquoThere is no wrong door to finding support at our ESC and you can always contact any of our staff at any timerdquo
4
Migration in Global ContextMTwenty-two educators from around Ohio participated in the Summer Institute in the Humanities Migration in Global Context History Narrative and Project-Based Learning at the ESC of Cuyahoga County during August The ESC is collaborating with the History Department at Cleveland State University to present the teacher institute and follow-up workshops during Fall and Spring terms During the institute teachers learned from humanities scholars about local national and international historical social cultural and economic consequences of migration within and across countries and continents Master teachers demonstrated transdisciplinary curricula and project-based learning that engages students in learning about migration themes in the classroom and in their communities Teachers toured the historic Tremont area of Cleveland that has welcomed waves of immigrants for decades During AY 2015-2016 the program continues with book discussion film and a Teacher Symposium during which participants will demonstrate their curricular units and the active participation of their students
In preparation for the Symposium Cleveland Central Catholic High School visual art students led by Mary C Brondfield and North Olmsted High School history students led by Matt Aber participated in an interactive program to understand migration patterns and contributions of immigrants within Clevelandrsquos Slavic Village neighborhood on October 22 Prof John Grabowski of Case Western Reserve University was interviewed by students about growing up in Slavic Village
and the changes he has seen over the years Students toured historic Shrine Church of St Stanislaus built by Polish immigrants during the 1800s The tour was given by choir director David Krakowski and writer Rob Jagelewski Students had the opportunity to tour the Baxter Road Cemetery one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Cleveland Author Jeff Morris unlocked the gates to the cemetery and provided students with an up-close view of the tombstones Morris gave a lecture on the history of the cemetery The event provided students with an authentic experience of the economic cultural and historical changes in migration leading up to the present day Slavic Village Both Mrs Brondfield and Mr Aber participated in the program this past summer
The project is funded in part by Ohio Humanities a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities to expand content knowledge through a humanities lens for teachers and their students
For information and to register for events please contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
5Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
6
GLOBAL EDUCATION International Visitors at the ESC
On October 23rd international educators from Turkey the Republic of China Jordan and Saudi Arabia learned about the myriad services and programs provided by the ESC of Cuyahoga County The educators represented a broad range of disciplines including English psychology science social studies special education curriculum and instruction and evaluation and assessment They are currently participating in education programs at Kent State University and are interested in learning about services and programs which typically are not offered in their home countries
Coordinator of 21st Century Learning Nadine Grimm shared information about the ESC its mission services and programs Communications and community outreach professional Charlene Paparizos provided information about the ways in which schools and the ESC communicate with their constituents about important issues through print electronic and social
media Dana Lambacher and Susan Cromwell of the ESC shared information about student special services such as audio or visual interventions Mary Wise coordinator of Project AWARE discussed mental health services for students and educator training to raise awareness about needs and interventions
The exchange with international educators will continue in April with the Culture Cafeacute hosted at the ESC For information contact
Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
G
7Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Teaching About Africa Workshop SeriesThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is collaborating with scholars from Cleveland State and Kent State Universities to present a series of fall workshops focusing on sub-Saharan Africa and the history cultures and current events shaping the continent On September 2nd The Public Humanities and Modern Africa Symposium co-hosted by the ESC was held at Cleveland State Scholars from Africa or whose expertise focuses on Africana history anthropology archaeology art geography and educational research discussed the past present and future of the developing countries on the African continent On October 22nd the ESC hosted a workshop on
East Africa Kenya and the Cleveland-Kenyan History Mobile App Project led by Prof Meshack Owino a native Kenyan who is collaborating with scholars in Kenya and their respective students to record the history of public sites in Kenya and Cleveland It is a model of conducting local history work but with international implications Workshops continue at the ESC with West African history and literacy genres and the history of Central Africa cultures and African music traditions with professors at Kent State from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For information contact Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
Click here for more info on the Dec 2 workshop
8
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
Pre-school art English and reading specialists participated in an Octavofest event at the ESC of Cuyahoga County making handmade paper in the Western style from cotton fiber and in the Eastern style from kozo fiber The workshop was one event of Octavofest a celebration of the book and paper arts that happens annually in October in Northeast Ohio and includes lectures exhibits tours and other events This yearrsquos theme was ldquoIn the Gardenrdquo thus our handmade papers were made from plant fibers provided by artisans from Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Teachers will use their handmade
papers to make journals books and posters with their students to enhance reading writing and art skills
The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight leaves The ESC has offered workshops for past Octavofest events on handmade book crafts creating books from recycled materials and workshops on travel journals
G
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
3Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
SSuperintendentrsquos Message
ESC Experiencing Exciting and Positive Changes
By Dr Bob Mengerink Superintendent
We Build Bridges For Educators bull Districts bull Agencies bull Organizations
Universities amp Colleges bull Students bull Adult LearnersFamilies amp Communities bull Businesses
Dear Colleagues
I hope you have had a wonderful start to this new school year
Our ESC has seen some exciting changes over the last year with new districts programs and
services that continue to increase our capacity to serve each of you While our client districts now span across five counties in Northeast Ohio we remain open and committed to providing assistance and support to any district that needs services
Services and programs developed through the ESC of Cuyahoga are based on dialogue and feedback from our clients to ensure that we are offering flexible support that meets your needsmdashnot our needs With the relationships
our ESC team has developed over the years with area administrators and educators we hope you will always feel welcome and comfortable to tell us not only how we can help but how we can help better There is no wrong door to finding support at our ESC and you can always contact any of our staff at any time While our vision is to continue to expand
our work and partnerships at the ESC our priority will always be to make each individual feel as they are a part of a small family of support
SincerelyBob Mengerink
Congratulations 2015 National Blue Ribbon SchoolsUS Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized 335 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015 based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups The ESC of Cuyahoga County congratulates Hilltop Elementary School in the Beachwood City School District (Rebecca Holthaus Principal) and Westerly Elementary School in the Bay Village City Schools (Josie Sanfilippo Principal)
The Department honored all 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on November 9-10 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC Each school received an award plaque and a flag as symbols of their accomplishments In its 33-year history more than 8000 of Americarsquos schools have received the coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award
C
ldquoThere is no wrong door to finding support at our ESC and you can always contact any of our staff at any timerdquo
4
Migration in Global ContextMTwenty-two educators from around Ohio participated in the Summer Institute in the Humanities Migration in Global Context History Narrative and Project-Based Learning at the ESC of Cuyahoga County during August The ESC is collaborating with the History Department at Cleveland State University to present the teacher institute and follow-up workshops during Fall and Spring terms During the institute teachers learned from humanities scholars about local national and international historical social cultural and economic consequences of migration within and across countries and continents Master teachers demonstrated transdisciplinary curricula and project-based learning that engages students in learning about migration themes in the classroom and in their communities Teachers toured the historic Tremont area of Cleveland that has welcomed waves of immigrants for decades During AY 2015-2016 the program continues with book discussion film and a Teacher Symposium during which participants will demonstrate their curricular units and the active participation of their students
In preparation for the Symposium Cleveland Central Catholic High School visual art students led by Mary C Brondfield and North Olmsted High School history students led by Matt Aber participated in an interactive program to understand migration patterns and contributions of immigrants within Clevelandrsquos Slavic Village neighborhood on October 22 Prof John Grabowski of Case Western Reserve University was interviewed by students about growing up in Slavic Village
and the changes he has seen over the years Students toured historic Shrine Church of St Stanislaus built by Polish immigrants during the 1800s The tour was given by choir director David Krakowski and writer Rob Jagelewski Students had the opportunity to tour the Baxter Road Cemetery one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Cleveland Author Jeff Morris unlocked the gates to the cemetery and provided students with an up-close view of the tombstones Morris gave a lecture on the history of the cemetery The event provided students with an authentic experience of the economic cultural and historical changes in migration leading up to the present day Slavic Village Both Mrs Brondfield and Mr Aber participated in the program this past summer
The project is funded in part by Ohio Humanities a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities to expand content knowledge through a humanities lens for teachers and their students
For information and to register for events please contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
5Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
6
GLOBAL EDUCATION International Visitors at the ESC
On October 23rd international educators from Turkey the Republic of China Jordan and Saudi Arabia learned about the myriad services and programs provided by the ESC of Cuyahoga County The educators represented a broad range of disciplines including English psychology science social studies special education curriculum and instruction and evaluation and assessment They are currently participating in education programs at Kent State University and are interested in learning about services and programs which typically are not offered in their home countries
Coordinator of 21st Century Learning Nadine Grimm shared information about the ESC its mission services and programs Communications and community outreach professional Charlene Paparizos provided information about the ways in which schools and the ESC communicate with their constituents about important issues through print electronic and social
media Dana Lambacher and Susan Cromwell of the ESC shared information about student special services such as audio or visual interventions Mary Wise coordinator of Project AWARE discussed mental health services for students and educator training to raise awareness about needs and interventions
The exchange with international educators will continue in April with the Culture Cafeacute hosted at the ESC For information contact
Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
G
7Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Teaching About Africa Workshop SeriesThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is collaborating with scholars from Cleveland State and Kent State Universities to present a series of fall workshops focusing on sub-Saharan Africa and the history cultures and current events shaping the continent On September 2nd The Public Humanities and Modern Africa Symposium co-hosted by the ESC was held at Cleveland State Scholars from Africa or whose expertise focuses on Africana history anthropology archaeology art geography and educational research discussed the past present and future of the developing countries on the African continent On October 22nd the ESC hosted a workshop on
East Africa Kenya and the Cleveland-Kenyan History Mobile App Project led by Prof Meshack Owino a native Kenyan who is collaborating with scholars in Kenya and their respective students to record the history of public sites in Kenya and Cleveland It is a model of conducting local history work but with international implications Workshops continue at the ESC with West African history and literacy genres and the history of Central Africa cultures and African music traditions with professors at Kent State from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For information contact Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
Click here for more info on the Dec 2 workshop
8
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
Pre-school art English and reading specialists participated in an Octavofest event at the ESC of Cuyahoga County making handmade paper in the Western style from cotton fiber and in the Eastern style from kozo fiber The workshop was one event of Octavofest a celebration of the book and paper arts that happens annually in October in Northeast Ohio and includes lectures exhibits tours and other events This yearrsquos theme was ldquoIn the Gardenrdquo thus our handmade papers were made from plant fibers provided by artisans from Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Teachers will use their handmade
papers to make journals books and posters with their students to enhance reading writing and art skills
The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight leaves The ESC has offered workshops for past Octavofest events on handmade book crafts creating books from recycled materials and workshops on travel journals
G
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
4
Migration in Global ContextMTwenty-two educators from around Ohio participated in the Summer Institute in the Humanities Migration in Global Context History Narrative and Project-Based Learning at the ESC of Cuyahoga County during August The ESC is collaborating with the History Department at Cleveland State University to present the teacher institute and follow-up workshops during Fall and Spring terms During the institute teachers learned from humanities scholars about local national and international historical social cultural and economic consequences of migration within and across countries and continents Master teachers demonstrated transdisciplinary curricula and project-based learning that engages students in learning about migration themes in the classroom and in their communities Teachers toured the historic Tremont area of Cleveland that has welcomed waves of immigrants for decades During AY 2015-2016 the program continues with book discussion film and a Teacher Symposium during which participants will demonstrate their curricular units and the active participation of their students
In preparation for the Symposium Cleveland Central Catholic High School visual art students led by Mary C Brondfield and North Olmsted High School history students led by Matt Aber participated in an interactive program to understand migration patterns and contributions of immigrants within Clevelandrsquos Slavic Village neighborhood on October 22 Prof John Grabowski of Case Western Reserve University was interviewed by students about growing up in Slavic Village
and the changes he has seen over the years Students toured historic Shrine Church of St Stanislaus built by Polish immigrants during the 1800s The tour was given by choir director David Krakowski and writer Rob Jagelewski Students had the opportunity to tour the Baxter Road Cemetery one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Cleveland Author Jeff Morris unlocked the gates to the cemetery and provided students with an up-close view of the tombstones Morris gave a lecture on the history of the cemetery The event provided students with an authentic experience of the economic cultural and historical changes in migration leading up to the present day Slavic Village Both Mrs Brondfield and Mr Aber participated in the program this past summer
The project is funded in part by Ohio Humanities a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities to expand content knowledge through a humanities lens for teachers and their students
For information and to register for events please contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
5Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
6
GLOBAL EDUCATION International Visitors at the ESC
On October 23rd international educators from Turkey the Republic of China Jordan and Saudi Arabia learned about the myriad services and programs provided by the ESC of Cuyahoga County The educators represented a broad range of disciplines including English psychology science social studies special education curriculum and instruction and evaluation and assessment They are currently participating in education programs at Kent State University and are interested in learning about services and programs which typically are not offered in their home countries
Coordinator of 21st Century Learning Nadine Grimm shared information about the ESC its mission services and programs Communications and community outreach professional Charlene Paparizos provided information about the ways in which schools and the ESC communicate with their constituents about important issues through print electronic and social
media Dana Lambacher and Susan Cromwell of the ESC shared information about student special services such as audio or visual interventions Mary Wise coordinator of Project AWARE discussed mental health services for students and educator training to raise awareness about needs and interventions
The exchange with international educators will continue in April with the Culture Cafeacute hosted at the ESC For information contact
Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
G
7Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Teaching About Africa Workshop SeriesThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is collaborating with scholars from Cleveland State and Kent State Universities to present a series of fall workshops focusing on sub-Saharan Africa and the history cultures and current events shaping the continent On September 2nd The Public Humanities and Modern Africa Symposium co-hosted by the ESC was held at Cleveland State Scholars from Africa or whose expertise focuses on Africana history anthropology archaeology art geography and educational research discussed the past present and future of the developing countries on the African continent On October 22nd the ESC hosted a workshop on
East Africa Kenya and the Cleveland-Kenyan History Mobile App Project led by Prof Meshack Owino a native Kenyan who is collaborating with scholars in Kenya and their respective students to record the history of public sites in Kenya and Cleveland It is a model of conducting local history work but with international implications Workshops continue at the ESC with West African history and literacy genres and the history of Central Africa cultures and African music traditions with professors at Kent State from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For information contact Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
Click here for more info on the Dec 2 workshop
8
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
Pre-school art English and reading specialists participated in an Octavofest event at the ESC of Cuyahoga County making handmade paper in the Western style from cotton fiber and in the Eastern style from kozo fiber The workshop was one event of Octavofest a celebration of the book and paper arts that happens annually in October in Northeast Ohio and includes lectures exhibits tours and other events This yearrsquos theme was ldquoIn the Gardenrdquo thus our handmade papers were made from plant fibers provided by artisans from Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Teachers will use their handmade
papers to make journals books and posters with their students to enhance reading writing and art skills
The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight leaves The ESC has offered workshops for past Octavofest events on handmade book crafts creating books from recycled materials and workshops on travel journals
G
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
5Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
6
GLOBAL EDUCATION International Visitors at the ESC
On October 23rd international educators from Turkey the Republic of China Jordan and Saudi Arabia learned about the myriad services and programs provided by the ESC of Cuyahoga County The educators represented a broad range of disciplines including English psychology science social studies special education curriculum and instruction and evaluation and assessment They are currently participating in education programs at Kent State University and are interested in learning about services and programs which typically are not offered in their home countries
Coordinator of 21st Century Learning Nadine Grimm shared information about the ESC its mission services and programs Communications and community outreach professional Charlene Paparizos provided information about the ways in which schools and the ESC communicate with their constituents about important issues through print electronic and social
media Dana Lambacher and Susan Cromwell of the ESC shared information about student special services such as audio or visual interventions Mary Wise coordinator of Project AWARE discussed mental health services for students and educator training to raise awareness about needs and interventions
The exchange with international educators will continue in April with the Culture Cafeacute hosted at the ESC For information contact
Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
G
7Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Teaching About Africa Workshop SeriesThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is collaborating with scholars from Cleveland State and Kent State Universities to present a series of fall workshops focusing on sub-Saharan Africa and the history cultures and current events shaping the continent On September 2nd The Public Humanities and Modern Africa Symposium co-hosted by the ESC was held at Cleveland State Scholars from Africa or whose expertise focuses on Africana history anthropology archaeology art geography and educational research discussed the past present and future of the developing countries on the African continent On October 22nd the ESC hosted a workshop on
East Africa Kenya and the Cleveland-Kenyan History Mobile App Project led by Prof Meshack Owino a native Kenyan who is collaborating with scholars in Kenya and their respective students to record the history of public sites in Kenya and Cleveland It is a model of conducting local history work but with international implications Workshops continue at the ESC with West African history and literacy genres and the history of Central Africa cultures and African music traditions with professors at Kent State from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For information contact Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
Click here for more info on the Dec 2 workshop
8
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
Pre-school art English and reading specialists participated in an Octavofest event at the ESC of Cuyahoga County making handmade paper in the Western style from cotton fiber and in the Eastern style from kozo fiber The workshop was one event of Octavofest a celebration of the book and paper arts that happens annually in October in Northeast Ohio and includes lectures exhibits tours and other events This yearrsquos theme was ldquoIn the Gardenrdquo thus our handmade papers were made from plant fibers provided by artisans from Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Teachers will use their handmade
papers to make journals books and posters with their students to enhance reading writing and art skills
The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight leaves The ESC has offered workshops for past Octavofest events on handmade book crafts creating books from recycled materials and workshops on travel journals
G
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
6
GLOBAL EDUCATION International Visitors at the ESC
On October 23rd international educators from Turkey the Republic of China Jordan and Saudi Arabia learned about the myriad services and programs provided by the ESC of Cuyahoga County The educators represented a broad range of disciplines including English psychology science social studies special education curriculum and instruction and evaluation and assessment They are currently participating in education programs at Kent State University and are interested in learning about services and programs which typically are not offered in their home countries
Coordinator of 21st Century Learning Nadine Grimm shared information about the ESC its mission services and programs Communications and community outreach professional Charlene Paparizos provided information about the ways in which schools and the ESC communicate with their constituents about important issues through print electronic and social
media Dana Lambacher and Susan Cromwell of the ESC shared information about student special services such as audio or visual interventions Mary Wise coordinator of Project AWARE discussed mental health services for students and educator training to raise awareness about needs and interventions
The exchange with international educators will continue in April with the Culture Cafeacute hosted at the ESC For information contact
Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
G
7Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Teaching About Africa Workshop SeriesThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is collaborating with scholars from Cleveland State and Kent State Universities to present a series of fall workshops focusing on sub-Saharan Africa and the history cultures and current events shaping the continent On September 2nd The Public Humanities and Modern Africa Symposium co-hosted by the ESC was held at Cleveland State Scholars from Africa or whose expertise focuses on Africana history anthropology archaeology art geography and educational research discussed the past present and future of the developing countries on the African continent On October 22nd the ESC hosted a workshop on
East Africa Kenya and the Cleveland-Kenyan History Mobile App Project led by Prof Meshack Owino a native Kenyan who is collaborating with scholars in Kenya and their respective students to record the history of public sites in Kenya and Cleveland It is a model of conducting local history work but with international implications Workshops continue at the ESC with West African history and literacy genres and the history of Central Africa cultures and African music traditions with professors at Kent State from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For information contact Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
Click here for more info on the Dec 2 workshop
8
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
Pre-school art English and reading specialists participated in an Octavofest event at the ESC of Cuyahoga County making handmade paper in the Western style from cotton fiber and in the Eastern style from kozo fiber The workshop was one event of Octavofest a celebration of the book and paper arts that happens annually in October in Northeast Ohio and includes lectures exhibits tours and other events This yearrsquos theme was ldquoIn the Gardenrdquo thus our handmade papers were made from plant fibers provided by artisans from Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Teachers will use their handmade
papers to make journals books and posters with their students to enhance reading writing and art skills
The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight leaves The ESC has offered workshops for past Octavofest events on handmade book crafts creating books from recycled materials and workshops on travel journals
G
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
7Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Teaching About Africa Workshop SeriesThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is collaborating with scholars from Cleveland State and Kent State Universities to present a series of fall workshops focusing on sub-Saharan Africa and the history cultures and current events shaping the continent On September 2nd The Public Humanities and Modern Africa Symposium co-hosted by the ESC was held at Cleveland State Scholars from Africa or whose expertise focuses on Africana history anthropology archaeology art geography and educational research discussed the past present and future of the developing countries on the African continent On October 22nd the ESC hosted a workshop on
East Africa Kenya and the Cleveland-Kenyan History Mobile App Project led by Prof Meshack Owino a native Kenyan who is collaborating with scholars in Kenya and their respective students to record the history of public sites in Kenya and Cleveland It is a model of conducting local history work but with international implications Workshops continue at the ESC with West African history and literacy genres and the history of Central Africa cultures and African music traditions with professors at Kent State from Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For information contact Nadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
Click here for more info on the Dec 2 workshop
8
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
Pre-school art English and reading specialists participated in an Octavofest event at the ESC of Cuyahoga County making handmade paper in the Western style from cotton fiber and in the Eastern style from kozo fiber The workshop was one event of Octavofest a celebration of the book and paper arts that happens annually in October in Northeast Ohio and includes lectures exhibits tours and other events This yearrsquos theme was ldquoIn the Gardenrdquo thus our handmade papers were made from plant fibers provided by artisans from Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Teachers will use their handmade
papers to make journals books and posters with their students to enhance reading writing and art skills
The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight leaves The ESC has offered workshops for past Octavofest events on handmade book crafts creating books from recycled materials and workshops on travel journals
G
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
8
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
Pre-school art English and reading specialists participated in an Octavofest event at the ESC of Cuyahoga County making handmade paper in the Western style from cotton fiber and in the Eastern style from kozo fiber The workshop was one event of Octavofest a celebration of the book and paper arts that happens annually in October in Northeast Ohio and includes lectures exhibits tours and other events This yearrsquos theme was ldquoIn the Gardenrdquo thus our handmade papers were made from plant fibers provided by artisans from Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Teachers will use their handmade
papers to make journals books and posters with their students to enhance reading writing and art skills
The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight leaves The ESC has offered workshops for past Octavofest events on handmade book crafts creating books from recycled materials and workshops on travel journals
G
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
9Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
ESC of Cuyahoga County Announces Two New Professional Learning NetworksThe ESC of Cuyahoga County is pleased to announce the addition of two new professional learning networks for the 2015-2016 academic year
E
The Literacy Network ndash The first meeting of the Literacy Network was held on Wednesday November 11 2015 at the ESC of Cuyahoga County The network is for dedicated ELA specialists coaches and teacher leaders who are interested in sharing discussing learning and reflecting together to ensure that all students receive the highest quality ELA instruction possible The Literacy Network is facilitated by Jennifer Miller K-5 ELA Coach and Specialist Aurora City Schools To learn more about the network or to register for the meeting please go to the ESC of Cuyahoga Website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
The Northeast Ohio Mathematical Specialists (NEOMS) Network - This network is facilitated by Mike Lipnos Math Coach Specialist Aurora City Schools and is for passionate math specialists coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction Meetings are held from 900 am ndash 330 pm at the ESC of Cuyahoga County Upcoming meetings are scheduled for the following dates December 8 2015 January 22 2016 March 18 2016 and June 3 2016 To learn more about the network or to register for a meeting please visit the ESC of Cuyahoga County website at wwwesc-ccorg Click on Professional DevelopmentCalendar of Events
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
The ESC of Cuyahoga County is coordinating the development of a Writing Center to serve the teachers and students at Collinwood High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The Center provides college mentors for one-on-one conferencing with students as they brainstorm draft and revise their essays for all classes On October 29th the Writing
Center hosted the first College Essay Review Day for 40 seniors who are applying for college admission Plans include small group sessions for students to improve reading and writing skills and vocabulary comprehension as well as online research skills The Writing Center is located in the schoolrsquos library media center
CCollinwood High School Writing Center
Global Arts and Culture Handmade Papermaking - Octavofest
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
10
T The Disney WayOn September 25 2015 the ESC of Cuyahoga County hosted 44 local and city school districts in Northeast Ohio for a day-long program with Bill Capodagli author of The Disney Way At the request of superintendents and other educational leaders the ESC established Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this academic year for superintendents principals from high schools middle and elementary schools and administrative assistants An Emerging Leaders program also was developed with the assistance of the Schlechty Group The Disney Way was selected as a focal area for readings and discussions among all the PLC groups and with the Emerging Leaders participants During the program on September 25th the author stressed that the Disney magic
is built on four areas of prominence Dream Believe Dare and Do About 190 educators attended the session and will participate in book review and discussions during future monthly meetings In addition to the book study monthly meetings will include other discussions and learning opportunities such as videos for learning TED talks and will focus on topics about technology the administrator as the lead learner and leaving a legacy For information contactPaul Pendleton Co-Director of Leadership Services216-901-4220paulpendletonesc-ccorg
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
11Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute
On October 12 2015 and in partnership with ASCD the ESC of Cuyahoga County kicked off Building Teachersrsquo Capacity for Success A Collaborative Approach for Coaches and School Leaders Institute In this year-long institute author Pete Hall (winner of the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award) will share a straightforward plan and ideas that will help site-based administrators and instructional coaches collaborate to bring out the best in every teacher build a stronger and more cohesive staff and achieve greater success Throughout the program participants will learn clear proven strategies that are organized around two easy-to-use toolsmdashthe innovative Continuum of Self-Reflection and a feedback-focused walk-through modelmdasha differentiated approach to coaching and supervision centered on identifying and nurturing teachersrsquo individual strengths and helping them reach new levels of professional success and satisfaction This yearrsquos cohort includes administrators and teachers from several school districts locals and community schools and organizations Districts Berea Brecksville-Broadview Heights Cleveland Metropolitan Euclid North Olmsted and Rocky RiverLocals Crestwood Firelands RevereCommunity School Near West Intergenerational SchoolOrganizations ESC of Cuyahoga County Positive Education Program
B
For information contactPaula Kucinic Director of Professional Development and Instructional Technology216-901-4244Paulakucinicesc-ccorg
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
12
Making Campus Connections at the ESCMThe ESC of Cuyahoga County in partnership with area universities provides area educators with a va-riety of opportunities to participate in graduate credit programs as well as to obtain graduate credit hours for workshops occurring at the ESCrsquos Independence facility
Ashland Universityrsquos Telego Center for Educational Improvement offers curriculum studies professional development grant evaluation services and school safety training Their College of Educationrsquos four masterrsquos level programs integrate academics and field-based elements The Ashland Treasurer Leader-ship Academy (ATLAS) responds to issues in public education for treasurer and business offices
Cleveland State Universityrsquos Center for Educational Leadership partners with the ESC to house their Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program This is an alternative pathway to receiving principal licensure in 16 months
The Ohio State University College of Food Agri-cultural and Environmental Sciences with the ESC and Cuyahoga County Board of Health partner on the Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Partners provide technical assistance education and networking for educators doing farm-to-school programming an approach that connects the class-room cafeteria and community to improve health and well-being
Youngstown State University partners with the ESC for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Instruction is online via YSUrsquos online learning man-agement system and monthly face-to-face meetings at the ESC
The University of Phoenix partners with the ESC to offer classes designed for busy working learners This academic alliance allows participants to receive continuing education credits or bachelorrsquos masterrsquos and doctoral degrees from more than 20 programs and 50 concentrations
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
13Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
BBuilding Leadership Teams
The demands on todayrsquos educators are arguably the most rigorous in our countryrsquos history and districts and schools in Cuyahoga County have recognized that schools can best help students grow and achieve through collaborative teams at the teacher building and district levels As part of the Ohio Improvement Process SSTmdashRegion 3 provides professional development for these collaborative teams to districts in Cuyahoga County in Intensive and Moderate Support status and community schools that are identified as Focus Schools This fall SST-3 has provided professional development to hundreds of educators on the Teacher-Based Teams (TBT) and Building Leadership Teams (BLT) processes
The TBT process involves teamsbull Prioritizing standards for collaborationbull Developing clear learning targetsbull Developing common assessments
measurement tools bull Analyzing student databull Designing instructionbull Reflecting on student growth and
instructional practices
The BLT process involves teamsbull Monitoring and providing feedback and
support to TBTsbull Designing school-wide support for TBTs bull Communicating to TBTs a districtnetwork team
or management team
John Hattie in Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) considered the small teams data-driven model as the most successful method for analyzing student performance goal setting providing deliberate instruction and monitoring student learning and teacher instruction
Professional development opportunitiesTBTs December 9th15thBLTs December 2ndJanuary 20th
ContactRoss May SST-3 ConsultantCoordinator of School Improvement216-446-3802rossmayesc-ccorg
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
14
Ohio House Bill 64 and Safe Harbor Requirements both offer changes which impact districts and individual educators HB 64 makes adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond Districts are permitted to choose between the original teacher evaluation framework and the alternative teacher evaluation framework New this year is an alternative framework that includes teacher performance at 50 student growth at 35 and an additional measure as 15 of the evaluation HB 64 also impacts the use of value added datascores and how this translates into student growth for teachers We also have had many changes within our department this fall We welcome Dr Kathleen Scott who joins our team to lead the Resident Educator (RE) programming for the ESC of Cuyahoga County and local districtsschools Kathleen has done prior regional work within the RE Program as a RE mentor state trainer and as a RESA master coder and lead assessor We are proud to share her expertise and knowledge with our resident educators their mentors and the administrative staff leading our participating districts
Also joining our team is Eric Sikora Eric shares his time between the Ohio Department of Education and the ESC working in Educator Quality Programs Ericrsquos focus is teacher leadership and supporting districts in implementing state and local initiatives
The Educator Quality Department continues to provide guidance and support in OPES OTES Student Growth Measures including Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) eTPES Local Professional Development Committees Master Teacher Resident Educator support and mentor training and Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) If you should have any questions or professional development needs please contact
Michele Shrefler Director Educator Quality Programsmicheleshrefleresc-ccorgor Sharon Novak Coordinator Educator Quality Programs(216) 446-3808sharonnovakesc-ccorg
EEducator Quality Programs Department
EEmerging Leaders
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to improve and enhance the leadership capacity of both school personnel and school districts Designed in conjunction with the Schlechty Center this program is providing the tools training experiences research networking opportunities as well as giving leaders the opportunity to examine their personal and professional beliefs and values in a setting that provides practical approaches to leadership Some of the topics being explored are examining leadership styles leading change handling conflict leading programming such as curriculum and special education handling of political issues exploring
all aspects of communication and many more The program presently has a great blend of sitting administrators as well prospective and future leaders For more information about the Emerging Leaders Program please contactRuss Bennett Co-Director of Leadership Services216-524-3000russbennettesc-ccorg
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
15Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
Early Learners InstituteOn August 12-14 2015 the 5th annual Early Learners Institute welcomed the early childhood community into the new school year Creating Connections for Kids was woven through current early childhood topics to support the work of teachers paraprofessionals related services staff and administrators Keynote speaker Nancy Tarshis from Social Thinking was featured in a full-day workshop Sessions with The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cuyahoga County Public Library Cleveland Museum of Art along with nine other vendors connected our audience to the local resources available to enrich curricula practices and the educational experiences of our young learners
Through professional development and technical assistance SST-3 has supported both kindergarten and preschool teachers as they returned to their classrooms to begin administering statewide assessments The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is given to all first time kindergartners in the fall (only) The assessment is based on Ohiorsquos Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and is used to determine what children know when they enter kindergarten The Language and Literacy portion can also be used to address the requirements for the Third Grade Guarantee Similarly preschool teachers began the Early Learning Assessment (ELA) for children supported by state and federal funding and to meet the requirements for Step up to Quality (SUTQ) ELA is also based on the Early Learning and Development Standards but differs from the KRA as it is a formative assessment and can be administered throughout the year with reporting to ODE in the fall and spring SST-3 support is ongoing as needed
Bev Metzger SST-3 Consultant Early Childhood216-446-3818Bevmetzgeresc-ccorg
E
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
16
Working on the Work ConferenceOn October 19-21 2015 the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County in partnership with the Schlechty Center hosted more than 100 teachers administrators and principals at the Working on the Work A Strategy for Empowering Students to be Knowledge Workers Institute Participants traveled from across Ohio and Georgia to attend this national conference The three-day institute was designed to model a ldquolearning platformrdquo and provided participants with an opportunity to sharpen their skills in the same type of environment we advocate creating for students Throughout the conference participants were provided with inquiry and discovery learning opportunities After exploring some overarching topics together on day one participants selected how they would spend their learning time on days two and three from three specific focused sessions They were Exploring how to create the right conditions for engagement and leading students toward success How to develop leadership and How to Engage students in a digital world Ohio districts participating included North Olmsted City Schools Maple Heights City Schools Mayfield City Schools Orange City Schools and Ridgemont Local Schools Representation from the state of Georgia included Carrollton City Cartersville City Catoosa County Crisp County and Gordon County and Trion City Schools
W
IInnovation Lab NetworkThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has supported the work of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) districts for several years as they move toward student-focused learning ILN district administrators boards and faculty agree to promote principles and practices of 1) personalized learning 2) world class knowledge and skills 3) student agency 4) comprehensive systems of learning supports 5) anytimeanywhere learning opportunities and 6) performance-based learning and
assessments More than 20 districts currently are part of the statewide network The districts met at their annual conference in June to learn about competency-based education efforts in Kentucky and Wisconsin and methods to scale personalized learning for curriculum instruction and comprehensive systems of assessments Several Ohio ILN districts and STEM schools have been awarded waivers from some evaluation and assessments as they strive toward competency-
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
17Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
based education and they are awaiting federal approval Legislation has provided opportunities for additional districts to apply for innovation waivers and for pilots for competency-based education
For information contactNadine Grimm Coordinator of 21st Century Learning216-901-4243Nadinegrimmesc-ccorg
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
18
GGIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMSBeck Center of the ArtsPeaceful SolutionsOn October 22nd high school students from Bedford Cuyahoga Heights Lakewood Richmond Heights South Euclid and Westlake learned how to create peaceful solutions through the arts This one-day workshop at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood included opportunities for students to write songs play instruments paint mold with clay and learn how cultural arts can have a positive impact on their lives and society
LLeadership WorkshopOn November 13 high school students had the opportunity to take part in a leadership workshop conducted by Paul Pendleton Director of Leadership Services for the ESC of Cuyahoga County The workshop encompassed areas such as Leadership Styles Importance of Vision Reaching Consensus Team Building and Creating Positive Environments for Success Examples of various activities were used to help the students develop techniques to use in school projects
Represented Districts
Bedford Richmond HeightsSouth EuclidLyndhurstWestlake
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
19Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT PROGRAMS
Annual GPS Workshop at Chagrin ReservationStudents from six school districts (Bedford Chardon Lakewood South EuclidLyndhurst Rocky River and Richmond Heights) attended this middle school student seminar at Look About Lodge in the Chagrin Reservation on September 29th and October 6th Students were instructed by a naturalist at the park on the theory and use of a handheld GPS unit After the instruction on the GPS students in teams of four and five searched for eight different waypoints in the woods They also completed an exercise in triangulation This is an annual event for districts that are a part of the Gifted Consortium of the ESC of Cuyahoga County For information about Gifted and Talented programs contact Steve Rogaski Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services 216-901-4210 Steverogaskiesc-ccorg
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
20
ESC of Cuyahoga County Selects Apex Learning as a Primary Provider for Ohio Online Learning ProgramThe ESC of Cuyahoga County has selected Apex Learning the leading provider of blended and virtual learning solutions to the nationrsquos schools as a primary digital curriculum provider for the Ohio Online Learning Program Supporting districts who want to offer virtual school options for their students Ohio Online Learning Program is the most rapidly growing online school in the state Apex Learning will provide more than 5000 course enrollments each supported by Apex Learning Ohio-certified online teachers
ldquoWe selected Apex Learning for their expertise in servicing large virtual programs the access to actionable performance data for teachers and administrators and the active learning experience for our studentsmdashall of which will have a tremendous impact on the success of the Ohio Online Learning Program in meeting our districtsrsquo needs Our first priority is to provide districts with the flexible options and cost-savings that they do not currently have access to in implementing virtual learning toolsrdquo said
Dr Jennifer Dodd the Director of Operations and Development for the ESC of Cuyahoga County
Apex Learning courses are now available through Ohio Online Learning Program for grades 7-12 for the 2015-2016 school year Available courses include those required for graduation credit recovery Advanced Placement and electives such as Career and Technical Education and world language courses
ldquoWe are pleased to partner with the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County to provide digital curriculum to students through the Ohio Online Learning Program offering a rigorous option to support the needs of districts and their studentsrdquo said Cheryl Vedoe CEO Apex Learning ldquoDistricts across the state can have confidence that students using Apex Learning courses with our online teachers will experience the highest quality of instructionrdquo
E
About Apex LearningNearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as a leader in digital learning for secondary education developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have access the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses Recognizing the challenges schools face in meeting the needs of every student mdash from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those capable of accelerating their learning mdash the company continues to develop innovative digital learning solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her expectations
Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of rigorous standards-based online courses that meet high school graduation requirements Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery The companyrsquos latest digital learning solution mdashTutorials mdash are a key component of effective blended learning providing classroom teachers with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high stakes assessments targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all students
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program
21Educational Service Center (ESC) of Cuyahoga County
The basket raffle and open house at Rose-Mary Center School on October 29th provided fun for students families staff and friends of the school Approximately 2000 tickets were sold for the basket raffle Many thanks to the ESC of Cuyahoga County Governing Board who helped make this raffle a success Proceeds from the raffle went directly to the Rose-Mary Center Schoolrsquos community training opportunities for 39 students In addition to the raffle everyone had a great time playing games and carving pumpkins
RRose-Mary Center School Holds Basket Raffle and Open House
On October 27th a Clown Shoot activity fun house was the center of all the fun fall activities in the gym at the Rose-Mary Center School Each classroom had activity centers for students to move through one at a time Fresh popcorn and punch were given to the students as they were busy enjoying all the fun
F Fall Festival at Rose-Mary Center School
Shellyrsquos classroom had ldquogakrdquo and the therapists set up a multi sensory station (pictured are Bill Debbie (OTA) and Faith)
Nickie is helping Carlos with making crafts at their classroomrsquos activity station They were making a haunted house craft picture
Robrsquos classroom filled balloons with helium Bob (with the wig) is encouraging Kristen to go into the ldquoClown Shootrdquo activity house
Juliersquos classroom did pumpkin
carving at their classroomrsquos
station Stephen and Julie are
creating a pumpkin
Rob classroom teacher in room 3 celebrated 20 years at the ESC Rose-Mary Center School program